DeA Kids
An Italian children's television channel owned by De Agostini and distributed primarily through Sky Italia and NOW.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
DeA Kids is an Italian children's television channel operated within the De Agostini group. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 2008, on Sky Italia as a subscription television service for children approximately four to fourteen years old. Its original distribution used an encrypted satellite feed on Sky channel 601, positioning DeA Kids as a dedicated pay-TV destination rather than a general-interest broadcaster. A one-hour timeshift service, DeA Kids +1, followed on November 10, 2008, on Sky channel 602. The brand's programming has combined animated series, live-action children's and teen shows, educational or factual entertainment, and locally relevant productions. Titles associated with the channel include animated properties such as Oggy and the Cockroaches, Total Drama, Total DramaRama, Zig & Sharko, Bread Barbershop, and Pippi Longstocking, alongside live-action series including Find Me in Paris, Kally's Mashup, New School, Talent High School, and Street of Magic. Its historical schedule has also included a broad range of internationally licensed animation and children's franchises, including Geronimo Stilton, Winx Club, Teletubbies, The Amazing Spiez!, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, and WordGirl. DeA Kids expanded beyond the original satellite environment during the 2010s. From November 29, 2012, the channel became available through Sky Go and NOW, extending access to connected and on-demand audiences. It adopted a 16:9 widescreen presentation on April 1, 2016. Jacopo Calatroni has served as the channel's official announcer since 2016, giving the network a consistent Italian on-air voice. On September 5, 2022, DeA Kids introduced an updated logo and refreshed graphics package. The service continued to be distributed through Sky's newer platforms. From December 1, 2023, it was offered in high definition through NOW, Sky Stream, and Sky Glass decoders, while its satellite distribution remained in standard definition according to the referenced account. The related DeA Kids +1 service was scheduled to end permanently on December 1, 2025, in connection with the arrival of Disney Jr. DeA Kids is therefore best understood as a specialist Italian children's television brand whose value rests on curated programming, recognizable youth entertainment franchises, and integration across pay-TV and streaming platforms.
History
DeA Kids was created as a specialist Italian children's television service within the De Agostini group. It launched on October 1, 2008, through Sky Italia, using an encrypted satellite signal available to subscribers. The channel's intended audience was children between roughly four and fourteen years old. Its initial placement was Sky channel 601, and its business model was tied to subscription television distribution rather than free-to-air broadcasting. The service quickly added a companion timeshift feed. DeA Kids +1 began on November 10, 2008, on Sky channel 602, allowing viewers to watch the principal schedule one hour later. This provided additional scheduling flexibility and gave the brand a second channel presence within Sky's children's television offering. DeA Kids' programming identity developed around a mixture of animation, youth-oriented live action, imported series, and children's entertainment formats. The channel has been associated with a wide variety of properties, from comedy and adventure animation to preschool and school-age series and teen dramas. Examples from its current or referenced programming include Oggy and the Cockroaches, Total Drama, Total DramaRama, Zig & Sharko, Bread Barbershop, Find Me in Paris, Kally's Mashup, New School, Street of Magic, Talent High School, and Pippi Longstocking. Earlier schedules included properties such as Geronimo Stilton, Winx Club, Teletubbies, LoliRock, The Amazing Spiez!, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, WordGirl, and X-Men: Evolution. The breadth of the catalog indicates a channel strategy based on maintaining a varied schedule across age groups and genres rather than relying on one single franchise. A significant distribution development occurred on November 29, 2012, when DeA Kids became available through Sky Go and NOW. This extended the service from conventional satellite viewing into online and mobile-access environments. The move was consistent with the wider shift in pay-TV consumption toward authenticated streaming and multiscreen access. On April 1, 2016, the channel moved to the 16:9 widescreen format, modernizing its television presentation. Jacopo Calatroni has been the network's official announcer since 2016. On September 5, 2022, DeA Kids updated its logo and on-air graphics. The refresh maintained the channel's children's entertainment identity while revising its visual presentation. The brand later expanded its high-definition availability. From December 1, 2023, DeA Kids was offered in HD on NOW and through Sky Stream and Sky Glass decoders, although the cited reference states that its satellite transmission remained in SD. The DeA Kids +1 service was scheduled to permanently cease broadcasting on December 1, 2025, coinciding with the arrival of Disney Jr. This change concerns the timeshift extension rather than necessarily ending the main DeA Kids channel. Across its history, DeA Kids has remained a focused Italian children's media brand built around curated programming, pay-TV distribution, and gradual migration toward streaming-compatible platforms.
- 2025
DeA Kids +1 scheduled for closure
[1]The timeshift channel is scheduled to stop broadcasting permanently on December 1 in connection with the arrival of Disney Jr.
- 2023
HD distribution expands
[1]HD access begins on NOW, Sky Stream, and Sky Glass decoders from December 1, while satellite distribution remains in SD according to the cited source.
- 2022
Visual identity refresh
[1]DeA Kids updates its logo and graphics package on September 5.
- 2016
Channel moves to 16:9
[1]The network adopts a widescreen 16:9 presentation on April 1.
- 2012
Digital distribution expands
[1]DeA Kids becomes available through Sky Go and NOW from November 29.
- 2008
Main channel launches on Sky Italia
[1]DeA Kids begins broadcasting on October 1 as an encrypted subscription channel aimed at children aged approximately four to fourteen.
- 2008
DeA Kids +1 launches
[1]The one-hour timeshift version begins service on Sky channel 602 on November 10.
Products and positioning
A dedicated Italian pay-TV and streaming entertainment channel for children and young teenagers, combining international animated properties with live-action youth programming.
Children's television channel · 2008
DeA Kids
The principal DeA Kids service is an Italian children's television channel launched on Sky Italia in 2008. It serves children and young teenagers with a schedule combining animation, live-action series, youth entertainment, and internationally sourced programming. The channel has progressively extended its availability from encrypted satellite television to Sky Go, NOW, Sky Stream, and Sky Glass, with HD distribution added on selected newer platforms.
Timeshift television channel · 2008
DeA Kids +1
DeA Kids +1 was a companion feed that repeated the main channel's schedule with a one-hour delay. It launched on Sky channel 602 in November 2008 and provided viewers with an additional opportunity to watch the network's programming. The cited reference states that the service was scheduled to cease permanently on December 1, 2025.
Brand decisions
2025
Planned discontinuation of DeA Kids +1StrategyBackground
The platform schedule was revised in connection with the arrival of Disney Jr.
Action taken
DeA Kids +1 was scheduled to permanently cease broadcasting on December 1, 2025.
Aftermath
The timeshift extension was due to leave the lineup, while the referenced material does not state that the main DeA Kids channel would close.
2023
Expansion of high-definition platform accessOtherBackground
Sky's newer streaming-oriented devices and services supported higher-definition channel delivery.
Action taken
From December 1, 2023, DeA Kids became available in HD on NOW, Sky Stream, and Sky Glass decoders, while satellite transmission remained in SD according to the cited source.
Aftermath
The channel improved technical quality for viewers using selected streaming and hybrid television platforms.
2022
Network identity redesignStrategyBackground
The channel refreshed its visual identity to maintain a current on-air presentation for its child audience.
Action taken
DeA Kids introduced a revised logo and graphics package on September 5, 2022.
Aftermath
The brand continued under an updated visual system across its network presentation.
2016
Transition to widescreen presentationGeneration changeBackground
The channel's legacy television presentation required modernization as widescreen viewing became standard.
Action taken
DeA Kids changed to the 16:9 format on April 1, 2016.
Aftermath
The service adopted a contemporary widescreen broadcast format.
2012
Expansion to Sky Go and NOWStrategyBackground
Children's television viewing was increasingly moving beyond fixed satellite receivers toward online and mobile services.
Action taken
DeA Kids was added to Sky Go and NOW distribution from November 29, 2012.
Aftermath
The channel became accessible through additional connected-device and streaming environments.
2008
Launch of the DeA Kids channelProduct launchBackground
De Agostini established a dedicated subscription television service for Italian children within the Sky Italia ecosystem.
Action taken
DeA Kids began broadcasting on October 1, 2008, through an encrypted satellite feed on Sky channel 601.
Aftermath
The launch created the core channel around which the later timeshift, streaming, and multiscreen extensions were built.
2008
Introduction of DeA Kids +1Product launchBackground
A timeshift service could increase schedule flexibility for subscribers without requiring a separate programming identity.
Action taken
DeA Kids +1 launched on Sky channel 602 on November 10, one hour behind the main channel.
Aftermath
The brand gained a second Sky channel feed and an additional viewing window.
Sources2 sources
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